The Open Road: Better late than never...

I remember learning in my pre-marital counseling that it would be best if I refrained from pairing certain words like say, wife and nagging. Now I like to think of myself as a bright cookie, and I know I am someone who enjoys sleeping on a bed when I have the choice, so I have decided to tell you this: Over the last few days (eek maybe weeks) my wife has very kindly and persistently lovingly reminded me numerous times that it would be great if i could write on the blog. So here I am!! Foregoing the sunshine and crashing waves, and strong chance of sunburn in this tropical paradise to share with you all!

The only problem is, as I sit here, all of the stories I want to tell you involve food!!!

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe we last left each other at a truck stop somewhere in God forsaken west Texas sleeping among the semis. Picture if you can a large (very large) asphalt slab, neatly painted with white diagonal lines spaced just enough to fit a big rig. The occupants are a gruff group of individuals most likely only staying as long as the law requires. When we pulled up the lot was about 80% full. But it was clear, there was an understood protocol. EVERYONE had parked starting on one side and were slowly filling in sequentially. Now even as I sit here today, I can recall one very strong theme of our trip so far. I HATE backing in the trailer with an audience. Friends or strangers, it doesn't much matter. Its like eight grade dance all over again. My heart races and my palms pour out sweat. The only problem is I can't excuse myself to get more soda, or go to the bathroom, but my voice still probably cracks.

And now its crunch time. Its like 11:30pm, we have been driving for what seemed like at that time forever (little did I know!) and now I have to back my trailer in front of PROFESSIONALS! These guys literally do it in one swipe in their sleep.

I think I finally got acceptably straight into my spot, with out hitting any trucks around mind you, on about my 10th try. Considering I had plus or minus a few inches on each side of the trailer, 10 or so swipes wouldn't have been so bad, however every time I turned the trailer, my hitch made a screeching sound that sounded eerily like a possessed eagle, and loud enough to rouse the dead.

By the time I dropped the truck into park it wouldn't surprise me if every trucker in the county was awake and pissed. But such is life living in a trailer!

After we got to Dallas, as is rather customary, the day before the wedding all of the MEN in the wedding set off with the groom for a day packed with MAN things! I wont tell you about brunch because, well, it was kinda unmanly. But then in true Texas style, we went shooting! We rolled up to the shooting range with 13 dudes, all of whom have lived in Texas for some, if not for all of their lives. The shocking part is that out of these Texan men, exactly 3 of us had ever shot a gun before! Seriously, 3. Never would I have imagined that in a random sampling of grown men, that I would be one of the resident experts on firearm operation. "This is how you hold a shotgun." "No, the shells go in this way." "Trevor keep the LOADED GUN pointed DOWN RANGE!!!!" -- the last is not an actual quote, but does describe a real situation. I think all of the actual quotes from the moment are either in appropriate, screaming, or the sound of people hitting the deck to try and get out of the way.

The gun range staff took such pitty on us that they followed one of our groups giving instruction and safety tips for nearly 45 mins.

In spite of inherent danger of handing 10 people guns that had never before fire a weapon, we all made it to the wedding, and the ceremony went off without a hitch. It was great to see old friends, and Cels and I got pretty good at debriefing people on our odd life choices in 30 seconds or less.

And so we loaded up our trailer from its temporary home in the Cinemark parking lot and headed back to my parents house in Houston.

This is when I realize that most of the things I have to tell you about Houston and my family pretty much involve food. So all I will say is this: We ate like KINGS in Houston. No wait, what I meant to say was that it was fantastic to see my family. Cels and I got to meet my new nephew. He was only 8 weeks old and still very much in the, all I do is poop, eat, and need held stage, and Cels ATE IT UP! I sure hope she got it out of her system for a little while at least! Past that we just did boring to read about family things. Laughing, chatting, learning about the lower Brazos river basin Cardinal cousin, going to NASA to see rockets, and shooting an almost 3 year old with a hose! And perhaps the best part is that Cels is really starting to grasp her roll as a fellow foodie in the Brown clan! Mom: "What do you want to do today?" Cels "Hmmm... I say waffles for breakfast, and... Papadeauxs for dinner!"

Houston was also the first stop of hopefully many on my nationwide baseball stadium tour. Minute Maid Park. Check.

But enough with you all! I am going to the beach!! You can read about New Orleans to the present at a later date... MoMo. Out.

Celsey In... A little bit of Houston from Celsey's view point, I promise I will keep it short.

Man oh man did we have a blast with the little kiddos. Henry kept us on our toes with his whit and vocabulary. Lets just say he definitely could fool most people into thinking he is a year or so older than he is. Colin on the other hand had us busy with diaper changes and snuggles. He was content and asleep whenever he was being held. This means I spent most of my time holding him tight and snuggling him. Pretty hard life we live right.

When we weren't playing with the kiddos we were eating. I got to try all sorts of wonderful foods, and ones that I had been hearing about for years. Lets just say Pappadeauxs, Pappasitas, Churrascos, some wonderful italian place, and many wonderful dishes from Cricket's kitchen. We left there a few pounds heavier and little did we know heading to a place with even more food.....